Azilect (Rasagiline) is a once-daily product and one of the few treatment
options in the U.S. indicated for all stages of PD. It is an irrerversible monoamiine oxidase (MAO) type B inhibitor.
A potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction that may occure following it's use and is called Serotonin syndrome, or serotonin toxicity, or "cheese reaction," and is due to excessive amounts of serotonin in the CNS. Although, Azilect generally does not cause such reactions in therapeutic
PD doses. It is recommended that patients avoid foods (sharp cheeses) and
red wines containing amines such as tyramine. Also, it is not recommended
to be taken with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI,s), tricyclic
antidepressants, amphetamines, cocaine, demerol (meperidine) and the
list goes on and on.
By inhibiting MAO-B, Azilect prevents the metabolism of dopamine, thereby
increasing the concentration in the synapse.
Another enzyme (cathechol-o-mthyltransferase [COMP])that metabolizes the precursor (levodopa) to dopamine is entacapone (Comtan).

The forum is a little confusing.
Meds I take are Stalevo 150, 1 every 4 hours; generic Sinemet 25/100,
1/2 tab 3 times a day; generic Zoloft 50 mg daily.
Also, I had a bilateral DBS surgery 5 years ago.
I still can walk, drive a car and take care of myself.
I no longer run for exercise.
John g
)))

Hi glama9,
No i don't take azilect, but I am thinking about it. I currently am taking Zoloft
(antidepressant) 50 mg per day. Teva, the mft. of Azilect states that the selectivity of
Azilect at inhibiting MAO-B in humans has not been sufficiently established . Therefor, it's
use is restricted with Zoloft. In other words there is a drug-drug interaction between the two. [ not stated very clearly ]. I thing its ok but I will have to run it by my movement specialist.
Take care.
John g

I've taken Azilect since Jan - at first I didn't think it was doing anything and I still can't be certain - but a hardly ever have a tremor anymore - besides a gait issue which is unlike a PD gait my only PD symtpom is lack of arm swing. I take .5mg of azilect 1/d and 1mg of requip 3x/d